Seller Spotlight: Sale! | The Fashion Dungjen

An Etsy.com artist that was recently featured on The Fashion Dungjen, designsbyRED30f5 is having a 50 percent off sale but only for today, Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7.

I already know one friend of mine has taken advantage of the savings (she was in my room last night and pushed me off my computer so she could snag the necklace she wanted before someone else picked it up!) so don't wait!

Also, the contest to win two pieces of her jewelery is still open and is a great opportunity to win a fabulous jade necklace and earrings! Two more days to enter!

Yes Please! | The Fashion Dungjen

I'm seriously procrastinating all the work I have to do tonight because my weekend-long plans were kind of canceled. There's no longer a rush to get things done so I'm sitting at the front desk browsing rings on Etsy.com. That is exactly where I found this fantastic and wonderful ring that, if it wasn't $99, would already be on its way to my mailbox.

If you have an extra $99 and want to pick one up (maybe it can be my early Christmas present..?) you can find it in Colleen Baran's shop. I would pretty much take anything in her store with open arms. Just, you know, throwing that out there. You can take it and run with it or give it right back, but I'm going to let you do what you think is best.

She's offering free shipping right now so get on that offer while it's still valid!

Seller Spotlight Contest: WINNER | The Fashion Dungjen

The Pragmatic Effects contest ended today and Kristy read through all of the entries and has selected a winner ... A drum roll, please ...

Chris, a third-year astrophysics student has won the blue melting clock! Woohoo!
Congratulations, Chris!

Don't forget to enter the three active contests! More will be posted this weekend!

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

I love purses, bags and clutches. Really, I do.

I never thought I would be particularly fond of a print bag until Gary, the mastermind of RedAntCreations, donated this mod-print bag for a new contest.

I love the gray, white, black and green combination of this bag; it looks like spring though the colors are still practical for transitioning through every season. It takes a special kind of bag to do that. Plus, this bad boy has a full black lining. Score!

To win this bag, post a comment on this entry by noon on Monday, Dec. 8 by answering the following question:

What is the weirdest thing you carry in your purse or wallet?

Go, go, go! The winner will be announced some time after noon Monday, Dec. 8.

Seller Spotlight: RedAntCreations | The Fashion Dungjen

When it comes to sewing, no matter how much I try, I’m kind of a lost cause. And by kind of a lost cause, I mean, it’s pretty my hopeless.

Last year, when I was living in University Park Apartments with a couple of my best friends I tried to sew some pillow cases. Let’s just say we didn’t keep them out when we had company and they didn’t really stick around long.

For some people, they have a natural ability to be patient at a sewing machine and an unnatural ability to sew in straight lines.

Gary Berkowitz of RedAntCreations on Etsy.com is one of those people.

Gary, a writing tutor at the University of Cincinnati’s Center for Access and Transition, started sewing in August. (Yeah, August, as in just four months ago.) Since learning how to sew, he’s created his online business for extra income.

Looking at Gary’s work you would never know he had just recently picked up sewing.

“I had a sewing machine and took it as a challenge,” Gary said.

In order to create the bags – each takes about five hours to make – his wife selects fabrics and patterns while Gary pulls everything together.

Even crazier than being a novice seamstress, Gary has never had any real interest in fashion though is bags would suggest otherwise. (In fact, Gary has his Ph.D. in classics which he earned from UC.)

Most bags are in funky, modern printed fabrics and are lined with a solid color for contrast; the workmanship is impeccable.

“I really want to deviate from patterns,” Gary said. “I would rather never use another pattern again. I like to put myself into bags. I made one that was fur on the outside and satin on the inside. It was pretty wild.”

Gary draws his love for art and inspiration from his earlier works; 2-dimensional art carvings and charcoal drawings.

Though he enjoys making bags to sell on Etsy, don’t expect to see any of this other mediums for sale; those are strictly personal.

Next on Gary’s agenda: take a class in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning in pattern making and perhaps branch out into clothing.

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

Regina from designsbyRED3of5 sent her daughter into The News Record office at the University of Cincinnati to track me down the other day. With her she brought a gorgeous jade necklace with matching earrings.

And guess what?

Yeah, that's right, you have the chance to win both pieces! Bonus!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is answer the question below in a comment on this entry and wait patiently until Monday, Dec. 8, when I announce the winner!

The deadline to enter is noon, Monday, Dec. 8. Winning would be a great way to kick off exam week; nothing like treating yourself to fabulous new FREE jewelry!

So, here's the question:

Are you doing anything to make your holiday more environmentally friendly? If so, what? If not, why?

Ready? Set? GREEN LIGHT! Go! Enter! Win!

Seller Spotlight: DesignsbyRED3of5 | The Fashion Dungjen

“Create from your heart.”

-Regina Edwards

Some people think that jewelry or accessories have to be gaudy and flashy to catch attention. This is not true. Sure, a sequins disco ball necklace gets people talking, but it’s not always what you want them to say.

The art of being able to accessories doesn’t come easy for everyone; if you can pull together an outfit with a few accessories instead of your entire collection, you know you’re on the right track.

One of the most incredible talents someone can have is taking something old and making it new or taking something that is just OK and making it spectacular.

Doing those two things is what has helped propel Regina Edward’s jewelry business, DesignsbyRed3of5 on Etsy.com.

“I started making jewelry by recycling a necklace and bracelet I no longer would wear,” Regina said. “This led to a hunt for anything I did not think I would wear again or hadn’t worn in 2 years or so.”

Regina, a Cincinnati native, has a knack for creating simplistic and beautiful jewelry. The inspiration for her craft comes from colors seen in nature and organic settings.

Her jewelry looks serene and calm; a far cry from overly trendy and schizophrenic-looking pieces that tend to flood mainstream stores.

But that’s not what this is about.

It’s about her passion to create art, stress relief and mental therapy.

It’s also about supporting local artists through sites like Etsy.

“Now, with the state of the economy, it’s more important than ever to buy and sell locally,” Regina said. “Buying handmade supports artists from all disciplines, regardless of whether their craft is a major source of income or a hobby.”

If you’re interested in purchasing any of Regina’s work, you’ll have to look to her Etsy store; she’s not currently selling her pieces in local stores. It’s not to say, however, that store owners aren’t interested.

“I was in a local craft store and the owner liked [the jewelry] I was wearing and wanted to know to made it,” Regina said.

What Regina makes is a little different, but that’s what makes it so fantastic. It’s not something you’re going to find in any store and especially for the price; she is conscious of selecting high-quality materials while listing her items at relatively inexpensive costs.

Beautiful, quality, inexpensive jewelry; what more can you ask for?

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

Debra Dale, creative wonder woman behind Maille Mystique on Etsy.com, was super sweet to donate an incredibly beautiful and intricate bracelet for one lucky reader! If you've been keeping up with the other contests, you know what's coming, if not, here's the deal:

Answer the question below in a comment on this particular entry. On Saturday, Dec. 7, I will announce the winner. (The deadline to enter is noon on that Saturday.)

It's really easy and the pay off is totally worth it. You can keep the bracelet for yourself (which I would probably do. I'm just being honest.) or you can give it to someone as a gift!

Onto the question!

Who is your style icon and why?

Ready? Set? Go! Enter! Win!

Also, don't forget about the Pragmatic Effects contest. The deadline is Friday, Dec. 5!

Seller Spotlight: Maille Mystique | The Fashion Dungjen

The first time I head of chainmaille I spent at least 15 minutes looking at the word, trying to figure out what it meant and how the heck you pronounce it. Though I’m not sure I pronounce it correctly yet, I at least know what it is.

Chainmaille is the art of weaving and linking jump rings together. The actual process and art of chainmaille dates back to medieval times when it was used for armor; now it’s used by jewelry designers to create fabulous earrings, necklaces and bracelets.

Lucky for us, one of those artists happens to be pretty close.

Debra Dale, a Northern Kentucky-based jewelry designer, set up her Etsy.com, Maille Mystique, store in 2006 and again in 2007 after taking a break from online.

Debra has been a business woman for many years; she earned a bulk of her experience as co-owner of a doll business with her best friend. After 10 years of dolls, the company downsized and Debra was forced to learn a new trade.

It was as simple as an Internet search that she learned of her next great love: chainmaille.

From there, she says, the rest is history.

“I taught chainmaille for a bit at a bead store in the area but gave up after I discovered teaching was not my forte,” Debra said.

Drawing inspiration from online tutorials and designer forums, she finds patterns or a design she believes are aesthetically pleasing and puts her own personality into the work by tweaking the design.

What is most surprising is the science behind chainmaille design and construction.

“Everything in chainmaille is about AR – or Aspect Ratio,” Debra said. “Every weave has an ‘OK’ aspect ratio, a ‘will not work’ aspect ratio and a ‘perfect’ aspect ratio. That’s what I like to work on finding. It is figured by the diameter of the wire and the inner diameter of the ring.”

Finding the perfect aspect ratio is imperative for a durable piece of jewelry. Without it, the pieces are highly susceptible to breaking due to a lack of movement and flexibility.

To find Debra’s pieces you’ll have to venture to her Etsy.com site.

“I was offered a place to sell my jewelry here but they were interested more in “assembly line” type selling and that isn’t my idea of quality or enjoyment,” Debra said. “I do what I do because I love it.”

Yes Please! | The Fashion Dungjen

I was reading my FabSugar RSS feed the other day and saw a "love it or hate it" poll about the Valentino Noeud d'amore clutch. I love it. It's big, it's sassy, it's a really, really bright red. AND, it's only $1,095. I did put it on my Christmas list even though I know better. A girl can dream, right?

What do you think? Too big? Too bold? Too fabulous?!

Seller Spotlight Contest: WINNER | The Fashion Dungjen

The first contest, courtesy of Retired Records, closed today at noon. After enlisting The News Record's Editor-in-Chief, Kristy Conlin, to help pick a winner, I have an announcement to make:

Alyssa Ryan, a University of Cincinnati alumna and current English graduate student at the University of Texas, is the winner of the first contest!

Congratulations, Alyssa! I'll be shipping your necklace to you this week!

Don't forget to enter the latest contest, sponsored by Pragmatic Effects! The deadline is Friday, Dec. 5. I'll be posting a few more seller spotlights and contests tonight!

Keep checking back! There is some awesome stuff on the way!

Seller Spotlight: CONTEST | The Fashion Dungjen

Hilary's clocks are pretty awesome, right? She was nice enough to make a clock for the buy local Seller Spotlight series of The Fashion Dungjen. One lucky reader is going to win a handmade, one-of-a-kind melting clock.

Hilary's clocks are often electric colors of reds, blues, greens - anything you can think of. The clock for this contest, is a fabulous shade of blue. If it wasn't wrong for me to do so, I'd enter the contest because I want to keep it.

Here is the question for this contest:

Hilary is inspired by the work of Salvador Dali and surrealism. What artist or piece of art inspires you and why?

The deadline to enter this contest is noon, Friday, Dec. 5. (This way, if you're a University of Cincinnati student, you'll know what time it is and won't be late for any of your exams!) Post your response to the question in a comment to this entry to qualify!

Ready, set, GO! ENTER! WIN!

Seller Spotlight: Pragmatic Effects | The Fashion Dungjen

"Everyone has a story. It's fun to know you are helping out a stay-at-home mom, a college student or a starving artist."
-Hilary Wiezbenski



My parents think it’s really funny that I can’t tell time. Seriously, parents, it’s not that funny. I don’t know what keeps me from being able to read an analogue clock , but I just cannot do it. Some neuron in my brain doesn’t fire when I look up to the two black hands pointing to numbers. Thank goodness for cell phones and digital clocks.

For others, you know you’re really good at telling time when you can make time. And by making time, I don’t mean you’re a fabulous planner – though you may be – or that you get everything done on the never-ending To-do list, I mean, actually make time. Like clocks.

Hilary Wiezbenski – try saying that last name three times fast – is the woman behind Pragmatic Effects on Etsy.com.

After attending the University of Cincinnati for a quarter, she realized it just wasn’t for her. Now, Hilary, 27, is a stay-at-home mom who uses melting clocks to supplement an income.

“In my early 20s I started doing artwork that worried my parents,” Hilary said.

They kept worrying until they visited the Dali museum in Florida and realized their daughter wasn’t crazy, just working in a different art genre, surrealism.

“The [melting clock] idea of course was Salvador Dali’s, and I never for a minute pretend that I came up with the melting clock concept,” Hilary said. “My melting clocks are unique in that they are completely hand crafted. Try as I might, I haven’t found any others like mine.”

Hilary has been on Etsy for nearly two years – her shop opened in February, 2007. Since opening up for business, business has been steady and Hilary has – get this – clocks in 17 countries around the globe. (Everywhere from Latvia to North Korea.)

Despite her impressive sales to customers in other countries, she hasn’t had as much support locally.

“I had two of my clocks and a butterfly headboard in a store called Originalities in Hyde Park Square last year for a few months,” Hilary said. “After no sales and no responses I took them out of the store and both clocks sold the very next day online.”

Though the market for melting clocks isn’t as big in Cincinnati as it is in other places, it doesn’t mean there isn’t interest.

Hilary has sent photos of her work to the Salvador Dali Museum in Florida. Though the museum is in the middle of relocating, they have said her work is outstanding. It is not yet known whether her work will be carried at the museum.

Hilary’s love for painting and art has made her a successful artist and business woman.

“I am successful with my clocks because I found a niche,” Hilary said. “Don’t go into unnecessary debt for your business. I got an e-mail from a lady who told me she was $10,000 in debt and wasn’t selling anything. With a little research she could have avoided that.”

Hilary accepts orders for custom clocks in addition to the ready-made clocks in her Etsy shop.